mers oh my

[shikosuki]

Merchoro PSL

Comments

[karappo]

[He does find it a little unusual that he isn't able to find him immediately (and he has to shake himself out of the very brief pain in his chest the thought of that gives him), but he soon spots Choromatsu and allows himself momentary relief. At least until he notices what he's doing...]

Choromatsu!

[shikosuki]

[ FUCK

Choromatsu's shoulders jump and he takes his hands off the rock before wheeling around ]

D-Dad!!

[ FUCK FUCK FUCK IS HIS SECRET SPOT COMPROMISED IS DAD GONNA FIND THE HUMAN THINGS HOARD ]

[karappo]

[He blinks, leaning back a touch when he realizes he's surprised him. What...a reaction.]

What are you doing?

[shikosuki]

N-Nothing!

[ he quickly swims away from his secret hiding place and right up to his dad ]

W-Were you looking for me?

[karappo]

[Choromatsu is lucky that Poseidon had a pointed reason for coming here, or else he'd be pressing him more about where he'd just come from...but instead he just lets his brows furrow briefly before holding out a very tiny satchel in the palm of his hand.]

I finished your stones for you, Choromatsu. I spent most of last night putting spells on them, so they should all be ready for whatever you would like to do with them.

[shikosuki]

[ His face lights up ]

R-Really?!

[ He quickly swims into Poseidon's palm, sitting down and grabbing the bag to look inside ]

W... Wow...!! They're so pretty, dad!

[karappo]

[Poseidon smiles, watching Choromatsu as he looks the stones over. He'll find that they're all different sizes and mostly the same shape, either rounded or oval, but he tried to make at least one or two into squares just for added variety.]

You do not have to use them all, but...regardless, they are all yours to use as you would like.

...are you busy at the moment, by the way? I seem to have interrupted something.

[He looks pointedly to the rock. He wonders if Choromatsu will tell him himself what that was about.]

[shikosuki]

[ urk... ]

N-No, I'm not busy. I was just...

[ he stares back at the rock. ugh if he acts like it was nothing it'll just be suspicious. maybe partly admitting what it is will help. it's not like Poseidon can even get in there and find his collection unless he busts the whole cave open or something. ]

...Can you keep a secret, dad?

[karappo]

[Uh oh. Poseidon raises a brow, but nods anyway.]

Of course.

[So long as it's not something you've kept secret from him that you aren't supposed to...because then he'll keep your secret while you're also grounded probably.]

[shikosuki]

That's the entrance of a little cave I like to hide in when I want to be left alone... or at least don't want the others to bug me. None of them know about it. [ he thinks ]

I also keep some of my valuables there... you know, things I don't want them to steal.

[ so a bunch of dinglehoppers ]

[karappo]

[Ah...]

I see. And you do not want me to tell your brothers about it, is that right?

[shikosuki]

[ he nods, then clasps his hands together and pouts exaggeratedly ]

Pleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeeeeee?

[karappo]

Okay, okay...I will not tell them. My lips are sealed.

[He even mimes zipping his mouth shut to seal the deal. Seems that Choromatsu's secret is safe, for now.]

Though that does lead me to something I wanted to talk to you about...you remember my area of the reef I took you to a few weeks ago, non?

[shikosuki]

Huh? ...Oh! You mean when you gave me those gauntlets? What about it?

[karappo]

I would like you to accompany me there, one more time. Are you free?

[You seemed busy at your secret cave, and all.]

[shikosuki]

Oh-- okay. Yeah, I'm free for now.

[ he wanted to go visit his human friends but he can do this for now ]

[karappo]

[But you visit them every day, don't you...its time for you to make good on your time with Dear Ol' Dad.]

Oh good~ Come on, then. We mustn't waste any time-

[He gestures for Choromatsu to follow him as he turns away from the grotto, back in the direction of their reef home.]

There is something more I would like to show you.

[shikosuki]

A-Ah, okay!!

[ he's going to do his best to follow and keep up. he is but one adult but still small mer after all ]

[karappo]

[The only reason he didn't offer to carry him initially is...well, he figured Choromatsu wanted to do more Adult Things, and being an adult meant that you didn't need your god dad to carry you around.

Yet, in spite of himself, Poseidon turns about a quarter of the way there and looks at his son over his shoulder.]

Would you like a lift?

[shikosuki]

[ AND HE DOES but even he has to admit when he's beat. ]

Y-Yes please.

[ as a compromise though he's gonna make himself comfortable on his shoulder instead of his hand like usual ]

[karappo]

[Poseidon allows himself a small chuckle, patting his head with a finger before setting off again, this time able to swim much faster now that he's not waiting for Choromatsu to follow. They'll get there within minutes as opposed to the while it probably takes for Choromatsu to get to his secluded grotto and back home.]

Your secret cave is awfully far from home, you know.

[shikosuki]

[ The question throws him off guard. Of course it was a little farther than home, he knew that. He picked that spot BECAUSE of that, because he was certain his collection would be better hidden that way.

But he has to act dumb. Like there isn't anything he's hiding. ]

Eh? I-Is it? I never noticed.

[karappo]

It is. ...If you were any younger, I would tell you to move your things someplace closer to home. You are dangerously close to being in the completely open sea where you are, and even closer to the shore itself.

But...as you say, it was not an intentional choice. And you are old enough to make your own decisions. That is precisely part of what I wanted to talk to you about today.

[shikosuki]

[ He's lost in thought for a moment thinking about what a royal pain in the tail moving all the thingamabobs and whozzits and whatsits would be, but then caught off guard again by what his dad says. ]

It is?

[karappo]

Mhmm, it is.

[And just like that, they're already coming up on the reef. The other brothers aren't here, so Poseidon doesn't stop in the main clearing. He just turns straight down towards where his own grotto of sorts resides.]

I will explain. You see, you are not the only one who keeps your valuables in a special place. As you saw, I keep many things in my resting place of choice. Many wonderful, powerful things...but some of those things...some of them exist purely for sentimental value. As a reminder.